Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Accommodated Gymnastics Program For Atypically Developing Children, Ashtin Callahan

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Perceptions Of Occupational Therapists Working In Established Pace Programs, Jessica L. Daugherty-Peters

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: The Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) provides medical and social services to older adults who meet nursing home level of care but wish to remain in their own homes. Although PACE has been in existence for decades, this program is new to the state of Kentucky.

Purpose: The problem this Capstone project will address is the need for further research related to occupational therapy’s roles and experiences in PACE programs. This capstone will explore the perceptions of occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants working in established PACE programs.

Methods: This study followed a Qualitative Descriptive …

The Impact Of Patient Characteristics On Dysphagia Therapy Utilization And Feeding Outcomes For Premature Infants In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Tiana Nguyen

Theses and Dissertations

Medical advances have significantly increased the survival rates of preterm infants at lower gestational ages. However, infants born at lower gestational ages have an increased risk for developmental disabilities and oral feeding difficulties. A stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is very costly and inadequate oral feeding is the most common barrier to discharge for premature infants. Infants can receive dysphagia therapy services during their NICU stay that focuses on the development of oral feeding and swallowing skills. However, literature to this date has mainly focused on the impact of therapy services for premature infants after NICU discharge. …

Barriers To Exercise And Physical Activity - Insight From The Rural Practitioner, Erin G. Tillery

Honors College Theses

Sedentary lifestyles are a growing public health concern. Furthermore, many rural Americans lack adequate access to healthcare resources. When healthcare is sought, the patient-practitioner interactions may serve to influence the patient’s lifestyle choices. The practitioners' exercise and physical activity habits may shape the effectiveness of the patient-practitioners interaction. Here, we explored the potential barriers to exercise and physical activity (PA) in licensed physical and occupational therapists. In addition, we aimed to describe barriers to exercise and PA in individuals with a history of stroke from the perspective of the practitioner. Lastly, how current exercise and physical activity habits influence their …

The Experience Of Meditation, And Its Effects On Attention, For Adults With Stroke Or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Three-Part Dissertation With Qualitative And Quantitative Evidence, Cheryl Carrico

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

Impairment of attention is common after stroke; is a defining characteristic of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); and has been shown to correlate significantly with difficulties in daily life for individuals with these conditions. More research is needed to establish effective interventions addressing impaired attention in such cases. Meditation is not a standard-of-care intervention for this purpose but may have therapeutic potential. Meditation has been broadly defined as an activity which has self-regulation of attention as its main aim. In other words, it can be considered a training of attention. To shed light on the therapeutic potential of meditation, including …

Effects On Adherence And Comprehension With Video Demonstration Support Versus Traditional Home Exercise Programs: Culminating Project, Emily E. Morales

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

This culminating project examines the need for video-supported home exercise programs (HEP) in outpatient hand therapy clinics in South Jersey by developing a YouTube channel. This YouTube channel will consist of HEPs for common upper extremity diagnoses including proper demonstration of each exercise and clear concise written instructions within a playlist correlating to diagnosis. Advance clinical skill in hand therapy is the main goal for this capstone project. An analysis was completed evaluating adherence and comprehension when clients are prescribed traditional HEP to HEP supported by a video demonstration. The ultimate goal of this project was to establish an easily …

Adaptive Gaming As An Occupation: Motor Phenomena And Lived Experiences, Christina Floyd, Melanie Blaisdell, Madeleine Pope, Audrey Metzger, Donna Chen Tubig, Lauren Andaya, Christine Vincent

Occupational Therapy | Graduate Capstone Projects

Purpose: This qualitative study examined the lived experience and motor phenomena that occur in people with disabilities during the occupation of video gaming. Historically, the occupation of video gaming, also referred to as gaming, has not been inclusive of individuals with disabilities due to the design of traditional video gaming controllers. Typical gaming controllers require fine motor control, finger dexterity, and in-hand manipulation to grasp and use the controls on the device. Although, many people with disabilities do not have the fine motor skills required to access these devices, creating a barrier for this population to engage in …

Doctoral Capstone Experience In Program And Policy Development- Selah Freedom, Ashley N. Jones

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

Child trafficking has been reported in all 50 states and affects more than 2 million children each year (Guardian Group, 2021). Involvement in human trafficking at a young age induces trauma that has a lasting effect on the victim’s personality and coping skills. A review of literature confirmed a need for more support of the use of occupational therapy with sex trafficking survivors. Despite support for the implementation of occupational therapy in similar trauma populations like domestic violence, homelessness, post-traumatic stress disorder, and disaster survivors, there is limited literature supporting the use of OT with human trafficking survivors (Gorman & …

Exploring Accessibility And Social Inclusion For Children With Hearing Impairments In Residential Camps Through The Occupational Therapy Lens, Tiffany Coles

Student Capstone Papers

Children are encouraged to engage in various play, leisure, and social participation activities to enhance the development of life skills, independence, and social skills. A common leisure and social participation activity for children aged 6 to 18-years-old is to attend residential camp. Residential camps provide children a structured opportunity to engage in leisure activities while learning to become independent and self-confident when socializing and making new friends. Attending camp can be a fun and engaging environment to help accelerate growth in key developmental outcomes, such as positive identity, social skills, physical skills, positive values, and spirituality.

Within the residential camp …

Are All Instrumental Activities Of Daily Living Equal? A Pilot Study On The Performances Of Adults With Acquired Brain Injury, Crystal Lee, Samantha Schauer, Amy Tam, Yareli Vargas

Occupational Therapy | Graduate Capstone Projects

Aim: To determine if a relationship exists among performances of different instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) in adults with acquired brain injury (ABI).

Methods: A two-group correlational design was used to examine the relationship among performances in cooking, medication management, and financial management in nine adults with ABI who returned to driving and nine adults with ABI who did not return to driving. The Executive Function Performance Test (EFPT) measured initiation, organization, sequencing, judgment and safety, and completion.

Champ's Triathlon Training Program, Rachael Sollman

OTD Capstone Projects

Champ's Triathlon Training Program was created to provide an adaptive fitness opportunity to the community of Nashville, TN. This program was specifically targeting children 8 to 15 years old diagnosed with Down's Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy, Gross Motor Function Classification Scale levels I, II, and III. Champ's Triathlon Training Program was an extension of the Champ's Tri My Best Triathlon hosted by a team of therapists and Vanderbilt's Pediatric Clinic, including Kelley Newman. The program aimed to increase the participants' strength, flexibility, and endurance through triathlon related activities such as running/walking, swimming, and biking. Outcomes of the program were to …